From Stojna to the land of the woodenware

The starting point is at the top of the Stojna Mountain, the complex of peaks above the Kočevsko field, and descends to the Ribnica field, into the land of woodenware, where you can stop at the woodenware and pottery workshops.

About the route

The starting point is at the top of the Stojna in the embrace of spruce forest at a pleasant mountain cottage called koča pri Jelenovem Studencu, in the care of the Alpine Society of Kočevje. The benches are placed outside offering a rest to tired hikers, as well as the horse mooring. You can taste the local delicacies, listening to the gentle Jelenov well tinkling nearby and spent the night in the cottage.

The path continues along the forest road to the valley. Taking a turn from the planned path, you can visit the Elenora cave, another proof of the magnificent karst world, riding past the Strmec virgin forest. The ride continues under the Slovenski vrh towards Jasnica, and to the village of Rakitnica. The traditional charcoal pile event takes place at the end of May and in the beginning of June.

The following settlements on our way are Dolenja vas and Prigorica. They are well known for pottery crafts. You can take a shorter rest at one of the potters or in the nearby inn.

The path continues along the edge of the Dolenjevaško polje accompanied by a pleasant fizz of the Ribnica River. We ride past the Ugar estate, where every year in the month of September, a world cup in jumping obstacles is held. We turn right before Ribnica, following the way of the village of Goriča and the Nemška vas village. Or you can decide to visit the town of Ribnica with the castle, the Handicraft Center, the Miklova hiša museum and the St. Štefan church. You can also taste a great variety of culinary delicacies. You are most welcome to visit Ribnica during the open-air marketplace of woodenware and pottery, which takes place every first Sunday in September.

We continue to ride past the village of Hrovača, with the Škrabec homestead complex. Throughout the year, the villagers organize various ethnological and tourist events, amongst the most popular is the Bean’s Day, which is held every second Saturday in September.

Our journey ends slowly riding through the Dolenjevaško polje. We ride through the villages of Otavice and Lipovec. In the latter, you can stop for the last time at the workshops of Ribnica woodenware products under a protected geographical designation of origin.

After a short stop, we return riding along the old Roman road and along the dry channel of the Rinža sinking river, passing the villages of Ložine, Koblarji, the Stara cerkev and Gorenje, finishing the route at Mlaka, where you can say goodbye to horses and the guides.